The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-20

their glory as martial pieces, they were sung
and beloved with all the strength of many
thousand lusty throats, much to the undisguised
astonishment of the New Englanders and the
great disgust of Banks, general commanding.
who was indiscreet enough remark. that
Grant had sent him an armed mob Indirectly.
this remark led to the Eleventh giving an ex-
hibition drill in Coliseum square, which carried
Banks off his feet, feuratively speaking. and
filled his staff officers with envious admiration
It was magnificent display of proficiency In
arms. and regular army officers enthusiastically
admitted that it exceeded anything they had
ever seen in regimental work.
Speaking of skrmish at Opelousas, in the
Teche campaign, Mr.. Thompson said: '"fhe
rebels, who waited our coming, celebrated the
night before our arrival with ball, during
which they boosted that they would welcome
the Yanks with bloody hands to inhospitable
graves And their sweethearts bucked OF their
swords they sailed out to give US battle
But they came no further than the skirmish
llne and. try as the regiment would, IL could
get no chance at them. for they ANONYMOUSLY
fled after the first interchange OF shots Cam
eron. of the Thirty fourth. commanded the
brigade on this day, and he wanted the skirmish
line to 60 slow. that he might have an oppor-
tunity to put in regiment of colored troops
sent to him reinforcementa 1t would have
been retributive justice had these bragein e
Southerners been driven through tho streets of
Opeiousas by a detachment of their former
slaves"
leans followed soon after by a transfer to Madi-
sonville. where. early in February, the greater
part re-enlisted as veterans and were
ordered home furlongh Embarking on a
steamship at New Orleans. the vessel touched
at Key West Here dress parade and drill was
given, not only for the qualification of the peo-
pie living there. but to show officers of tic Brit
ish men of war lying in the haIbor the metal of
which American soldiers were made. The Brit
shers were surprised and delighted. one going
SO far as to say it beat the Queens Own. 1t
was not expected that in New York city, where
there was constant marching and counter IN arch
ing of troops that the Eleventh would receive
- 49,
barked at the foot of Maiden Lane, during its
passage along the various streets until it swung
on Broadway and marched to its quarters in the
park, there was an ovation which made
every member thrill with satisfaction.
The people By the thousands,
there was a roar of cheers uuceasing. and at
every step there were cries, Ave there's reg
iment." ''Those fellows have been to the 'front.'"
Look at the colors." and scores of kindred
pressIons, showing that the people knew good
thing when they saw it, and that we had il. the
following day there was dress parade and drill
in the park, witnessed by the Mayor and city
dienitares. the officers of the famous Seventh
New York, and by oceans of people. The lead
ing papers had more than passing notice of
the impromptu welcome which had been ex-
tended, and concerning the dress parade and
drill. 1t was great OCCASION in which every
member of the regiment felt that he weighed
the full standard. and was ali wool and yard
wide. Leaving New York, there stop at
Buffalo, Macauleys old home, where there was
another ovation. Upon reaching Indianapolis
there was another cordial reception,
headed by the Governor. After
the expiration OF it's furlough the
regiment returned to New Orleans. gathering up
the comrades who had not re-enlisted. and was
assigned to the Nineteenth corps, which had
been organized in the Gulf department. for SER
vice in Virginia 1t was forwarded by steam
ship to Fortress Monroe. then transferred to
Washington and Harpers Ferry. forming part
of the second brigade, second division of the
corps to which il had been attached. 1t partici-
pated in a number of skirmshes in the valley,
ard in the battle of Opequan, where eighty ono
were killed and wounded. It was also in the en-
gacements of Fishers Hill. Woodstock New
Market and Harrisonburg, eliminating in the
battle of Cedar Creek, where the loss was fifty
two in killed and wounded. This was on the
10Th of October, 1864 With the close of Sheri-
dams campaign in the valley its active work
practically ceased, for the war then was in its
last stages In January. 1865, the regiment
marched to Baltimore. where il remained until
the muster-out July 26, 1865. On the Sd of Au-
gust it reached this city. and after a welcoming
by the Governor. the members were disbanded
return to their homes.
In concluding his address, Mr.. Thompson said:
THE Eleventh Indiana was not alone consplcu-
Gus in it's efforts at the front In its superb or
ganzaton was found material eagerly chosen
for other commands. and in that way it's infu-
felt nearly every battle field of con-
sequence. 1t gave to the country Lew Wallace
who, colonel and general. was of marked
service at the 'front.' and who has Der Hur'-d Il
of since. not only in diplomatic circles as the 4
representative OF America abroad, but IL the
fields of literature. where he has carved for
himself path fully as brilliant that which
gave him first distinction. And there was
George F. McGinuis-brave. cool-headed, skillful
Pap McGinns-a soldier of two wars. who, by
his gallantry in the war of the rebellion won for
himself star. And Dan Macauley to a
brevet- brigadiershIp. with none to say him
nav. The regiment gave to the One hundred
and-forty- eighth indiana its colonel in Captain
N. r. Ruckle, of Company E. Captain Jabez
Smith resigned to re-enter the Sixteenth H.
diana with the same rank; Captain James r.
Ross promoted major and aide-de-camp
and whatever the duty he was always the soldier
Lieutenant |. n. Adams was made captain in
the One hundred and fiifty-sixth Indiana; Cap
tain De Witt G. Rueg became Lieutenant
colonel of the Forty-eighth Indiana; Lieutenant
Henry Tindall succeeded to captaincy In the
Sixty-third; Lieutenant George McDougal was
transferred to the veteran corps; Lieutenant
John L. Hanna, stripped to the ioins and out
swimming a shotgun handled by guerilas at
Clarendon. gained a captaincy in the Seventy
ninth Indiana; Captain Henry NJ. Carr was
made colonel Of the Fifty eighth Indiana; Fred
Knef1er, early transferred as assistant adjutant-
colonelcy of the Seventy ninth Indiana, and his
galantry in the Army OF tho Cumberland
made him brevet brigadiereeneral; Captain
Joe H. Livsey was promoted to major
and assistant Acknowledgement; Lieu
tenant Samuel j. Wilson was made captain
in the Fifty-fourth Indiana; Lieutenant Sam
ant-colonel of the One-huudred and thirty
second Indiana, and Second Lieutenant Thomas
B. Wightman was transferred to first lieutenant
Sixty-third Indiana Smith King was discharged
to again reach the front captain in the One
hundred and seventeenth, and when its term of
service expired he also went out with similar
rank in the One-hundred and thirty second and
the One hundred and ffty-sixrh: Billy Mount
secured leutenancy in the Seventy ninth;
George Fox was promoted major of the Seventy
fifth Ohio. and many others of thu rank and file
were sought for other commands. 1t is salts
faction to record that all the transferred officers
acquitted themselves in their new fields in a
manner shedding additional luster on the
mother regiment Besides this military record,
the Eleventh made a venture toward furnishing
instruction to the United States navy.
for Brother Hibben was transferred to that
branch of the service, and is still sailing the
over. He NAV have been more of a diplomatic
than a religious instructor, but the Elev enth
recognizes him in the capacity of a chaplain.
The regiment also gave to the army one brigade |
surgeon. DR.. w. Il. Fry, ST.. of Charlottesville,
who was still further advanced, and DR.. ]. A. |
this city, was one by brevet if not in
reality. The record would be incomplete with |